Only One Planet

If everyone in the world consumed natural resources and generated greenhouse gas emissions at the rate of the average European, we would need 2,8 planets to maintain our way of life. Climate change, deforestation and the loss of numerous species are already starting to affect us all and need a firm response.

European citizens are looking for leadership from politicians to get us out of this rapidly deteriorating situation. A recent survey shows that 95% of EU citizens feel that protecting the environment is important and 81% of them support environmentally focused legislation as a way to solve these problems1.

For over 20 years WWF has been working with Members of the European Parliament as well as with other EU institutions and national governments to ensure that:

strong legislation is adopted and implemented which protects the environment;

policies that threaten nature are reformed and;

financing is available for sustainable development at European and international level.

1 European Commission (2011), Special Eurobarometer 365,

Attitudes of European citizens towards the environment.

Members of the European Parliament can make the difference

Key achievements in recent years, such as the Parliament vote to end overfishing under the Fisheries Policy reform or the ban on illegal timber imports under the EU Timber Regulation are evidence of MEPs power to support wider public interest and ambitious reforms. However, in other areas such as agricultural policy or carbon trading, short-sighted priorities have still prevailed. A lot remains to be done to achieve a resource-efficient, low-carbon and sustainable Europe.

Tony Long, Director of the WWF European Policy Office discussing the reform of the Fisheries Policy with MEP Chris Davies in Strasbourg, where the Parliament voted in favour of sustainable fisheries (February 2013).

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A Crucial Mandate for a Sustainable Europe

The next European Parliament will coincide with the implementation of a series of crucial European policy reforms that should lead us on a more sustainable path towards 2020. Key environmental legislation will be reviewed and implemented, new and ambitious European climate and energy targets will have to be set for 2030, and international climate and environmental targets will have to be negotiated.

MEPs with determination and foresight will be needed to secure a future where people can live in harmony with nature.

WWF calls on all political parties and future Members of the European Parliament to:

Ensure EU environmental policies are successfully implemented in key areas of water

management, forest conservation, agriculture, fisheries and biodiversity restoration

and preservation;

Meet all climate and energy targets by 2020 and increase efforts to reduce energy

consumption, while setting ambitious and binding targets on greenhouse gas (GHG)

emissions reductions, increasing renewable energy and energy efficiency for 2030;

End subsidies that threaten nature, and shift to green economies making resource

efficiency a reality, giving real value to nature and making private investments more

sustainable;

Contribute to climate action in developing countries and support and implement a post

2015 global development framework that puts environmental sustainability firmly at its

heart;

Decrease the EU’s environmental footprint by promoting sustainable resource use

within Europe while enforcing standards to reduce the EU’s environmental impacts

abroad, in particular for food consumption.

2008 Biocapacity per person (in global hectares): the world average available biocapacity per person was 1.8 gha in 2008 while the use of an average European was 4.72 gha.

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Europe has adopted important comprehensive legislation on issues such as nature protection, water and marine conservation as well as illegal timber trade. After important efforts to foster effective implementation of environmental legislation and securing policy coherence, the economic and financial crisis is too often taken as an excuse to lower environmental standards. Nationally, a number of Member States are looking to water down existing European policies and legislation which have proven to be extremely important in protecting our health and natural assets. WWF believes that the only way to respond effectively to the crisis is to improve and implement policies that protect and strengthen the environment and the services it provides us, rather than undermining them.

Halt biodiversity loss by 2020

Problem: the loss of biodiversity is a ‘silent crisis’ worldwide, but economists have calculated that 3% of global GDP is lost annually due to biodiversity destruction1. For the EU that amounts up to €450 billion annually. Furthermore, we are seeing the decimation and eventual extinction of certain species in Europe and in countries outside the EU.

Solution: the ‘Natura 2000’ network of European nature sites, covering 18% of EU territory, needs effective financing for the management, protection and restoration of crucial habitats. Existing legislation must also be enforced more resolutely. Besides the protection of unique natural habitats and beautiful landscapes, Europe’s ‘Natura 2000’ network generates additional economic benefits of up to €300 billion annually2. The number of jobs provided directly and indirectly by biodiversity and ecosystem services in the EU is projected at 14.6 million.

WWF Asks:

1. Avoid the decline of Europe’s network of protected areas: the European

Parliament needs to support the full and effective implementation of the ‘Natura 2000’

network, including Europe’s seas and marine environment and the effective financing

for the management and restoration of all sites. The Birds and Habitats Directives as

well as the implementation of other policies such as the Common Agriculture Policy or

the Regional Policy must consolidate and contribute to European and international

objectives of halting biodiversity loss by 2020.

2. Meet EU Biodiversity targets: for its mid-term review in 2014-15, the European

Parliament needs to focus on the full implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy,

including all relevant domains like agriculture, and aquatic and marine sectors. The

strategy should also cover overseas territories.

3. Finance the battle against global biodiversity loss: the EU is a key player in the

international arena within conventions such as the UN Convention on Biological

Diversity, or the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. WWF calls on MEPs

to support the EU commitments within these conventions to increase contributions to

avert global biodiversity loss by 2020 and to double international biodiversity-related

financial flows by 2015.

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The guided tour on Natura 2000 site landscape Park Rački ribniki-Požeg in Slovenia. The area is a complex of lowland wet forests, meadows and fishponds where extensive fish breeding take place. The site is important for birds, amphibians, dragonflies and water plants.

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Secure clean and healthy waters in Europe and globally

Problem: less than 1% of the world water supply is available for human use and yet we are misusing this most precious natural resource on which our wellbeing, economy and wildlife depend. Our rivers, lakes, and groundwater aquifers are under increasing pressures from pollution, over-extraction and poorly planned and sited infrastructure. European seas are as well over-exploited by various users such as fisheries, offshore wind farms, transport, etc.

Solution: Since 2000 the EU has a robust and comprehensive legislation for water protection (Water Framework Directive), yet its implementation and enforcement are still insufficient. Only 52% of European rivers, lakes and coasts are expected to reach the required “good ecological status” in 2015.Significant additional efforts are required to meet agreed targets and maintain and enhance delivery of important ecosystem services. The European Commission estimates that if all European water bodies reach good ecological status by 2015, the expected total yearly benefits might be worth up to €37.3 billion3. Regarding the marine environment, the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), adopted in 2008, is one of the most progressive pieces of European legislation specifically aimed at the preservation and restoration of the marine environment. If fully implemented, all European seas can achieve Good Environmental Status (GES) by 2020 at the latest.

WWF Asks:

4. Revive EU’s rivers and lakes to ecological health: the European Parliament

needs to ensure that the challenges related to the Water Framework Directive

implementation are solved and its legal provisions strengthened during the legal review

of the directive in 2018-2019. To do so, negative impacts of hydropower and navigation

on freshwater ecosystems as well as pollution from agriculture should be reduced and

wetlands should be reconnected for the retention of both flood waters and pollution.

5. Promote sustainable water management globally: the EU is in a strong position

to provide development funds and best practices for ecosystem-based water

management globally, so the European Parliament needs to strengthen the EU Water

Initiative as well as EU’s global role through water diplomacy. Furthermore, EU

companies operating globally should promote sustainable water management

throughout their supply chains.

6. Protect and restore marine ecosystems: It is crucial that activities having an

impact on the marine environment, implement an ecosystem-based approach in their

management. The European Parliament needs to ensure through progress reporting by

Member States that the Marine Strategy Framework Directive is fully and properly

implemented and that marine ecosystems achieve Good Environmental Status by

2020.

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Halt illegal wildlife and timber trade Illegal wildlife trade

Problem: based on customs data, illegal trade in wild animals and plants is valued at USD7.8-10 billion annually4. The EU remains one of the most important markets for the trafficking of illicit wildlife, both as an end destination and a place of transit for goods such as rhino horn, or elephant ivory. The trade is increasingly funding other illegal operations such as arms and drug trafficking, regional conflicts and armed insurgencies including terrorist organisations, thus destabilising a number of developing countries.

Solution: the existing EU Wildlife Trade Regulations are robust laws. However, higher priority with strengthened cooperation and resources are needed to combat illicit wildlife trafficking on the ground in the European Union and abroad.

WWF Asks:

7. Brand wildlife trafficking as a crime: promote the policy position within and

beyond the EU Member States that illicit wildlife trafficking is a serious crime that has

significant implications beyond species conservation for national security and rule of

law.

8. Ensure collaboration between EU bodies and international institutions:

support collaboration between the relevant EU bodies and international institutions

dealing with illicit wildlife trafficking, such as the UN Office of Drugs and Crime,

Interpol, the World Customs Organisation and the Convention on International Trade

in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

9. Support international cooperation: support bilateral, regional and/or

international cooperation agreements to combat illicit wildlife trafficking, particularly

between the EU and countries which share wildlife trafficking trade routes.

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Illegal timber trade

Problem: according to the World Bank, illegal logging in some countries accounts for as much as 90 % of all logging and generates approximately US$10–15 billion annually in criminal proceeds5. As one of the world’s largest wood consumers, the EU has a moral responsibility to ensure that its wood demand does not lead to the illegal exploitation and destruction of forests, wildlife and to jeopardizing the well-being of local communities.

Solution: the EU Timber Regulation, which entered into force in March 2013, prohibits trade in illegal timber products on the EU market. This has effects on legality in countries supplying timber to the EU. Effective implementation of the EU Timber Regulation at national level is crucial to ensure Europe’s global footprint is reduced while existing shortcomings of the current legislation need to be addressed by the European Parliament.

Sustainable agriculture that strikes a balance with nature

Problem: During the recent reform of the EU Common Agriculture Policy 2014-2020, for the first time ever, the European Parliament had full co-decision powers with the Council of Ministers but missed the chance to improve Europe’s farming activities. The European Parliament failed to abolish harmful subsidies which negatively affect environment, health, jobs, developing countries and animal welfare. Harmful farming practices still contribute significantly to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, water and soil pollution and the decline of biodiversity, while not supporting the farming community.

Solution: to avoid further damage to our agricultural sector and rural environment, public subsidies must only go to good farming practices, which respect nature, help farmers and produce healthy food sustainably without harming the agricultural sector in developing countries.

WWF Asks:

12. Green Europe’s agricultural sector: when reviewing parts of the Common

Agricultural Policy in 2017-18, improvements must be made in the run up to the next

2020 reform, without any further political delay. As a start, the European Parliament

needs to ensure full integration of EU environmental requirements into the agricultural

policy, with the inclusion of the Water Framework Directive, Pesticide Directive and

EU Biodiversity Strategy in particular.

WWF Asks:

10. Ensure proper implementation of the EU Timber Regulation: to stop illegal

wood from entering the EU market, the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) needs to be

properly implemented at national level. The European Parliament needs to engage with

EU governments and all relevant stakeholders both at Brussels and national level to

ensure the law is properly enforced, including monitoring and controls.

11. Close loopholes in the current legislation: a review of the EU Timber Regulation

is scheduled for 2015. The European Parliament needs to address shortcomings and

loopholes in the current legislation, without lowering the standard and ambition of the

law. This includes the review of product scope of the EUTR to have all wood-related

products relevant for the EU market covered under the legislation.

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Recovering fish stocks

Problem: two out of three fish stocks in the EU are overfished. If we still want to have fish on our plates in the future, guarantee fish stocks and ensure a viable industry, we must end overfishing and stop illegal fishing practices. While the EU has a legislation to combat illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing, enforcement and implementation are still lagging behind.

Solution: strong and effective fishing laws, adequate long-term management and enforcement need to be implemented in Europe and abroad. This allows fish stocks to recover and to be maintained at healthy levels.It furthermore promotes sustainable fishing practices, prevents fish from being wasted, maintains fishing fleets at levels fish stocks can support, and ends harmful subsidies while encouraging better fishing practices, control and data collection.

WWF Asks:

13. Continue ambition to end overfishing: in February 2013, the European

Parliament voted in favour of an ambitious and sustainable reform of the Common

Fisheries Policy and end to overfishing. In the implementation, the European

Parliament needs to ensure that Member States are on course to end overfishing and

achieve sustainable fish stocks by 2020.

14. Combat illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing: besides a strong

European fisheries policy, illegal fishing needs to be tackled. The European Parliament

needs to ensure that the existing IUU regulation is effective and properly enforced at

national level.

1 TEEB (2009), The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity for national and international Policy Makers.

2 European Commission (2011), The Social Dimension of Biodiversity Policy.

3 European Commission (2012), Task 4 b - Costs & Benefits of WFD implementation: Final report.

4 Traffic – the wildlife trade monitoring network

5 World Bank (2012), Justice for Forests: Improving Criminal Justice Efforts to Combat Illegal Logging.

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Problem: in an increasingly global system, European production and consumption are key drivers of biodiversity and natural resources loss inside and outside the EU. While exporting it’s footprint abroad, Europe has grown to be the world’s largest net land importer and the only region that uses more land “abroad” than from within its own borders. Food demand is one of the largest drivers behind resource-use and loss of natural capital, particularly through current over-consumption of animal protein and empty calories, and through wasting 1/3 of food from “farm to fork”. Europe’s excessive demand for food poses a serious obstacle to a sustainable future for all, not only from an environmental but also from a food security and public health perspective.

Solution: the European Union urgently needs to reduce its environmental impacts abroad through regulatory frameworks and standards. As regards food consumption, the EU has agreed to reduce European food chain’s resource use by 20% by 20201, including a subtarget to reduce avoidable food waste by 50% by 2020. Achieving European food sustainability requires a long-term and coherent policy framework. The European Commission communication on sustainable food is expected to set out the basis of this framework.

WWF Asks:

15. Reduce our footprint abroad: the European Parliament needs to upgrade and

ensure enforcement of regulatory frameworks and standards which decrease the EU’s

environmental impact abroad as well as put more emphasis on environmental concerns

in multilateral trade agreements.

16. Ensure sustainable food consumption in Europe by 2020: the European

Parliament must support more sustainable food choices and demands, and build the

foundations for a European food strategy that strikes the right balance between

production, waste and consumptions measures. In particular, the current consumption

of animal protein needs to be reduced in line with established healthy diet

recommendations.

17. Reducing food waste: the European Parliament needs to ensure effective measures

are in place under the ‘sustainable food’ initiative of the European Commission to

reduce food waste by 50% by 2020

In relative terms, Europe requires more land use “abroad” for its imports than any other country or region

(Source: “Europe’s Global Land Demand”, Sustainable Europe Research Institute (SERI), September 2011)

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WWF’s ongoing international campaign calling for more investments in renewable energy.

Advertisement (June 2013) for the Seize Your Power campaign which calls on governments and financial institutions globablly to invest at least an additional USD 40 billion in renewable energy by June 2014.

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Problem: climate change is being felt globally, including in Europe: heat waves, forest fires, prolonged droughts and extreme rainfall seriously affect our lives and economies. As the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gasses, Europe is a major contributor to climatic change. Current climate and energy targets are insufficient and climatic events will continue to increase and have an impact on us. Research also shows that 89% of EU citizens consider climate change a serious problem, but it is up to decision makers to address citizens’ concerns2.

Solution: as Europe’s economies struggle to recover, renewable energy and energy savings become increasingly attractive for investors and governments. Meeting the 2020 climate and energy targets would alone already generate up to 5 million new jobs. By reducing our dependency on fossil fuels the EU will be able to save up to €500 billion3 annually on fossil fuel imports and meeting Europe’s energy efficiency target for 2020 would lead to annual net savings of €200 billion4. This process needs to accelerate however and vital 2030 goals need to be set and reached.

WWF Asks:

18. Meet existing climate and energy targets: the European Parliament needs to

remain committed to achieve all of the 20-20-20 targets on GHG emissions, renewable

energy and energy efficiency. The 20% GHG emissions target should be raised

furthermore to at least 30% domestic savings by 2020 and on energy efficiency more

efforts are needed to reduce the EU energy consumption by 20% by 2020.

19. New and ambitious binding targets needed for 2030: the EU needs to

rediscover its ambition on climate and energy policies to reduce GHG emissions by

95% by 2050 compared to 1990 as agreed by the European Council in October 2009.

The European Parliament will be called in the next years to take decisions on the design

of climate and energy policies for post-2020, setting the necessary intermediary steps

to meet the 2050 objectives. For this, the European Parliament needs to support a

legally binding package of three targets by 2030 aiming to reduce GHG emissions by

55% and increasing renewable energy to 45% and cut energy use by 40%, which will

also contribute to European competitiveness and social and environmental protection.

20. One climate, one voice: the European Parliament has to support the Commission

and Member States to unify and speak with one voice at the 2015 United Nations

Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Paris where post 2020

climate action will be discussed. The EU should play a leadership role in the run up to

the UNFCCC by agreeing on strong and ambitious binding targets for 2030.

1 European Commission (2011) Roadmap to a Resource Efficient Europe.

2 European Commission (2011), Special Eurobarometer 372, Climate Change.

3 European Commission (2012), Connie Hedegaard: "Energy efficiency deal is an important step forward in our climate efforts",

http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/hedegaard/headlines/news/2012-06-14_01_en.htm 4 Ecofys (2012), Saving energy: bringing down Europe’s energy prices,

http://www.foeeurope.org/sites/default/files/publications/foee_ecofys_saving_energy_june2012.pdf

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Governments globally are currently spending six times more on carbon-intensive

subsidies, than on on clean energy subsidies

1. USD 35bn in company car & parking tax benefits in OECD countries

2. USD 523bn in support to fossil fuel consumption in developing &

emerging economies

3. USD 55-90bn in fossil fuel support in developed countries

4. USD 22bn of government R&D to fossil fuels

5. USD 88bn in 2011 for renewables subsidies globally

6. USD 17bn of government R&D to renewables & energy efficiency

Sources: OECD (2013), Inventory of Estimated Budgetary Support and Tax Expenditures for Fossil Fuels; IEA (2012), World Energy Outlook; IEA (2011) Clean Energy Progress Report; OECD (2013 forthcoming).

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Problem: in the past decades the current economic model of developed countries has proven to largely overshoot the physical limits of our planet. 83% of EU citizens believe that a better use of resources can lead to economic progress in Europe, and yet most politicians keep supporting investment in outdated policies and harmful subsidies1.

Solution: measurement of progress needs to go beyond GDP indicators and we need to reduce our over-dependency on resources and take the full costs of natural resource use into account. Harmful subsidies must come to an end while private financing flows should be incentivised to support a more sustainable economy, as well as strengthening resource efficiency.

WWF Asks:

21. End environmentally harmful subsidies: the European Parliament must review

relevant policies to phase out environmentally harmful subsidies without any delay.

This shall include largely unconditional direct subsidies under the Common

Agricultural Policy and for fossil fuels. Effective implementation of EU environmental

legislation having a direct economic impact such as water pricing under the Water

Framework Directive and applying biodiversity safeguards to infrastructure funding

ares also key to this objective.

22. Make resource efficiency a reality: in the framework of the Europe 2020 strategy,

the European Commission has set up a roadmap to a resource-efficient Europe by

2050. The European Parliament has a key role to play to ensure that clear targets are

set for 2020 with appropriate indicators to measure progress. Conserving resources is a

huge win-win for EU society and business.

23. Give real value to nature: despite proof that nature provides enormous socio-

economic benefits, it is largely ignored in political decision making, as well as in

economic planning and accounting. This can lead to wrong decisions. The European

Parliament can play a vital role in ensuring nature is valued and adequately accounted

for through a potential new ecosystems accounting module by 2020 under the

European Environmental Economic Accounts Regulation.

24. Make private investments more sustainable: private financial flows can have a

significant impact on climate and environment and can carry a systemic climate risk.

The European Parliament, in reviews of financial regulations, needs to ensure reporting

of the biodiversity and the carbon footprint of financial institutions (through their

investments) and incentivise them to reduce it. This is required to finance the long-

term low carbon economy in Europe.

1 European Commission (2011), Special Eurobarometer 365, Attitudes of European citizens towards the environment.

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Problem: the degradation of our environment, the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services and the impacts of climate change have a critical impact on agriculture, forests, fisheries and freshwater resources, on which the majority of the world’s poor are directly dependent.

Solution: as the largest provider of global development assistance, the EU has a particular responsibility towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015 and sustainable development in developing countries post 2015.

WWF Asks:

25. Put the environment at the heart of the post 2015 global development

framework: the European Parliament should support a strong and ambitious EU

position which puts environmental sustainability at the heart of poverty eradication

and human wellbeing in the international debate for the post 2015 global development

framework.

26. Implement post 2015 global development framework priorities: the

European Parliament must ensure that the priorities agreed in the future global

development framework post-2015 are integrated in the Global Public Goods

programme of the EU Development Cooperation Instrument.

27. Contribute to climate action in developing countries: the European Parliament

needs to make sure the EU contributes its fair share to the international agreement

under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to

provide 100 billion dollars annually by 2020 to support climate action in developing

countries. The agreement calls for these climate funds to be new and additional and

not to detract from existing commitments on poverty eradication and development.

28. Ensure dialogue is kept and improved with civil society: the essential role of

civil society organisations in policy dialogue from local to global level, and in

programmatic work has been recognised by the European institutions through the

Structured Dialogue process. We urge the European Parliament to ensure that the

commitments for civil society participation and dialogue resulting from this process are

upheld or strengthened where necessary.

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WWF’s mission is to “stop the degradation of our planet's natural environment, and build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature.” To achieve this, WWF has set two over-arching conservation goals by 2050:

1. Biodiversity Goal: By 2050, the integrity of the most outstanding natural places on Earth is conserved, contributing to a more secure and sustainable future for all.

2. Footprint Goal: By 2050, humanity's global footprint stays within the Earth's capacity to sustain life and the natural resources of our planet are shared equitably.

As part of a network of twenty offices around Europe and more than 100 all over the world, WWF European Policy Office in Brussels has been working since 1989 with Members of the European Parliament from across the political spectrum to support effective legislation to protect our environment. WWF is part of the Green 10, a group of ten of the largest environmental organisations/networks which have a representation in Brussels. As part of this coalition, WWF also contributes and supports a number of other policy initiatives led by the other members of the Green 10. WWF is also a member of CONCORD – the confederation of European NGOs for relief and development.

For further information: Tycho Vandermaesen Public Affairs Officer

WWF European Policy

Office

Email:

tvandermaesen@wwf.eu

Mobile

+32(0)498 72 56 41

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